The Bible says: “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season…” (2 Timothy 4:2).

Preach it when you feel like it and when you don’t. It’s like a calling; you don’t practice it only when it suits you because often it won’t. God wants His children to be His partners in winning others, not only because it’s our calling but because God’s love compels us.

Some might say, “If the anointing comes upon me, I will preach.” They never will, because the anointing is already upon them, but they don’t realize it. God has already sent and anointed you! Don’t wait for another sign or message! A person who doesn’t obey what’s written in the Holy Scriptures will never obey, even if a voice speaks to them from heaven. Moses told the people:

“Do not say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven to get it [the Word of God] for us?’ or, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us?’ The Word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart” (Deuteronomy 30:12-14).

Paul echoed this when he said: “…Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down) or, ‘Who will descend into the deep?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim” (Romans 10:6-8).

Every child of God is obligated to preach the gospel, or God will require from your hands the blood of those around you. Are you free from the blood of your colleagues? Are you free from the blood of those you share a vehicle with on your way to work? Or do you think it’s out of fashion to preach in a bus?

Consider the person who prays, “Oh God, send me to China,” yet sits in a bus full of people and refuses to speak to them about Jesus Christ. They may never go to China! Or another who prays, “God, if You give me money, I will ensure people hear this gospel. I believe I will build a publishing house and a TV studio for Christian work.”

You may never have those things unless you start preaching where you are. Then you can preach your way to China or the publishing house.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is not optional, nor is it mere advice. It is the only power of God to save anyone who believes. Until we reach this resolution, we will not communicate the gospel as we ought to.

The Ministry of Every Believer

For many, preaching the gospel is something that should only happen in church. This is not true. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:11-12:

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”

These fivefold ministry gifts in the Church are for the equipping of the saints so they can do the work of ministry; they are not for the world. God never anointed nor will He ever anoint anyone for one of the fivefold ministries to send them into the world. The moment you became a child of God, having eternal life and being filled with the Holy Spirit, you became a witness of His resurrection. You are a witness of eternal life, a preacher, and a producer of evidence. This is your work.

The Bible says: “That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

Every Christian has the ministry of reconciliation; it is the greatest ministry anyone can ever receive. Christ came with this ministry. The Bible says there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent. Yes, more than ninety-nine who only need revival! The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only power that can save…

This text is an excerpt from the book “JOIN THIS CHARIOT” written by Chris OYAKHILOME.

We invite you to read the next article: “Sinners Do Not Go to Church”.

PREACH THE WORD WHEREVER YOU ARE! PREACH THE WORD WHEREVER YOU ARE!